All-star Game Provides Players A Fresh Showcase

December 18, 2005|By Larry Blustein Special Correspondent

It was the largest stage that many of them had appeared on in their young careers, but on Dec. 8, high school football players from all over Broward County put on quite a show in the ninth BCAA All-Star game.

When the South came up with a 19-14 win over the North squad in the event at McArthur High Stadium, a number of area players knew what was at stake.

For seniors such as Miramar running back D'Andre Stringer, who scored a touchdown for the South, it was a chance to show about 45 colleges that he was an athlete to keep an eye on.

Stringer, one of the major surprises for the Patriots this season, made the most of the situation.

"This game is great for the players who are still searching for a scholarship," said Stringer, who was a star while coming up in the Washington Park youth football program in Hollywood. "When you have so many schools out here watching you, it signals that you have one final chance to make that impact."

In a year where hurricanes shortened the playing season around the county, this game was perhaps the most important of all. For Western and South coach Doug Dutton, it was a chance for him to help the colleges in town by giving them more information on each player.

Dutton's Wildcats fell short in an attempt to make the playoffs for the first time in three years, so players such as lineman Joe Krissel and defensive backs Troy Naddy, Will Griffin and Jared Corey had that extra chance to put their talents on display.

"Every coach believes their player is better than the next," Dutton said. "To me, every player who competed in this All-Star game, North or South, had the chance of a lifetime to show colleges that they can fit into their future plans."

Everglades' defensive back Bobby Seay did just that. Coming up with an interception, four key tackles and a fumble recovery, the talented athlete was voted as the South's Defensive MVP. The 6-foot, 175-pounder made the most of the game, and in the end, schools such as Bowling Green and Minnesota showed an interest.

"I knew that this would be my chance to be on an even playing field with everyone else," Seay said. "My coach [Mike Palmieri] told me that if I came out here and did well, everything else would take care of itself."

Seay was joined on the team by defensive back Johnny Smith and linemen Jonathan Decoster and Chris Brooks.

For every player such as Western defensive lineman Jared Martin, who is getting close to committing to the University of Pittsburgh, and Cooper City safety/linebacker Ricky Neaves, there are players such as Hallandale linebacker/fullback Johnny Garces, who at 5-8, 190, used the experience to attract attention.

While his Hallandale squad didn't receive the exposure that coach Antonio Williams had hoped for, the All-Star event is exactly what was needed for Garces and teammates Terron Riley and Justin Edwards to use to their advantage.

"From the practices to the banquet to the way they treated all of us, this was an experience that I would never trade," Garces said. "If one coach saw me do something, the event was well worth it."

Pines Charter running back Carl Volny and quarterback Kitoko Poblah both had impressive years, but since colleges had limited time to get to every school because of the hurricane-shortened season, the smaller programs usually lost out. Both turned heads all week in practice.

"When you have a year like this where colleges couldn't get to every school, a week like this is so important," said Charles Fishbein of MSLSports.net Football Scouting Service. "This is a forum that very few athletes have, the chance to showcase their skills."

For Nova athlete Oscar Petty, a 42-yard blocked punt return for a score was something he dreamed of happening, making a huge play with college coaches looking on. His teammates Josh Jones, Cameron Watson, Deon Dennis and Jabari Taylor also used the experience to their advantage.

ARGUELLES ADVANCES

When Sandy Arguelles was 5, she picked up a golf club for the first time. Now 14, the Hallandale Beach resident is on the verge of making a name for herself in the sport.

Arguelles, moving to South Florida four months ago from Orlando, has had to change her practice schedule, which includes one trip a week to Orlando where her coach lives.

She recently finished fourth in a regional tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C., which qualified her for February's national event in Houston.

"I thought with the move to this area and the two hurricanes we had to go through, this year would really be a wash," Arguelles said. "But things worked out very well and I actually played very well both days."

RATTLERS WIN

The South Florida Rattlers 14-Under baseball team has won another South Florida Travel Baseball League tournament in Miami.